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Green

We all know by now that, according to the 1998-2009 residual materials management policy of the Quebec Ministry of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks, all municipalities, in cooperation with their residents and local business owners, must aim to recover at least 65% of recoverable residual materials. Communities who fail to reach to target will be penalized.

Environment

Beginning in 2010, even though they already pay for garbage collection, municipalities and industries will be charged a deterrent fee by the Quebec government who will raise the cost of burying residual materials to $20.23 per ton. It is important to realize polluting costs more and more, on a financial level as well as in terms of our environmental legacy to future generations. This means we must question ourselves, once again, on whether or not we are really doing all it takes daily as individuals whether in our kitchens, on our properties, at the supermarket and when we shop. Does religiously filling our recycling bin each week make us green? How do we rate our individual and collective contribution and what can we do to improve our performance as responsible citizens? To pursue our citizens' commitment to sustainable growth, the Council and the City wanted to make an objective evaluation of our

In 2009

re we as as we think we are?

In 2010, the burial of residual materials will reach $20.23 per ton, adding to the financial burden of towns and industries. * Saint-Lazare residents send 65% more

waste to the landfill

than the average Quebecker. They sent 833 garbage trucks to the landfill site, the equivalent of 8,010 metric tons of waste, or 990 lbs or 450-kg of waste per person, exceeding the provincial average of 598 lbs or 272 kg; * Saint-Lazare residents have recovered more than 21% of recyclable materials in their blue bin compared to the Quebec average of 19 %; * Saint-Lazare residents have recycled less than 1% of organic materials while the average in Quebec is 6%. Polluting costs more and more, on a financial level as well as in terms of our environmental legacy to future generations. performance. The exercise revealed interesting data which highlighted our successes (blue bin) and our challenges (organic material including leaves). This first annual environmental assessment is an important step to help us set our contribution in context and understand the extent of the problem. Although real progress has been made over the last few years with special regard to recycling, the work is far from done. By working together with the Town council and employees, local business owners and members of the Environmental Protection Committee, we can improve our environmental performance.

2009 review

A Saint-Lazare resident

recycles more

recyclables

recovers less

organic materials

sends more

waste to the landfill

than the average Quebecers

10 June 10

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